North Bethesda

After 38 years, Hair Expressions, A Paul Mitchell Partner School has announced that it will be closing its Rockville campus (12450 Parklawn Drive). They will continue to offer their educational programs at their Jessup Campus (near Columbia, MD).

Hair Expressions – Paul Mitchell Partner School, has made its home in an 11,500-square-foot facility in Montgomery County since the the mid 80s. The school has been located just across the street from the Twinbrook Metro station, and is known for its “breathtaking monuments, free attractions, and endless calendar of special events.” Through team meetings, public outreach, and fundraising events, their Future Professionals have had the opportunity to socialize with like-minded students, make a positive impact on the Rockville community, and build leadership and teamwork skills that will help prepare them for a successful career in the beauty industry…all while offering discounted services to the community.

Earlier this year Rosenfeld Investments sent a letter to the community informing them of plans to redevelop the Loehmann’s Plaza shopping center, located at 5200 Randolph Rd. in Rockville. The shopping center was the longtime home of the Loehmann’s department store and, until recently, of Chuck E. Cheese. The plans include a proposed mixed-use development including up to 50,000 square feet of retail use and up to 750,000 square feet of residential use with up to 680 dwelling units. The first phase of the project would be up to 84 of the dwelling units with a 23,000 SF grocery store with other development to occur in future years.

Per Rosenfeld Investments, “the Property currently is developed with a shopping center (Loehmann’s Plaza) and a large surface parking lot. In recent years, retail trends have changed and major retail uses have been migrating to areas like Rockville Pike and to mixed-use centers like Pike and Rose. At the same time, there is an acute demand for new housing in mixed-use areas like this, near transit service, and Applicant has determined that it is in the public interest to redevelop the property in stages with a combination of residential and retail uses.”

Dill Dinkers, the first dedicated indoor pickleball facility in Maryland (Columbia location in Howard County and Finksburg in Carroll County), has officially opened its first Montgomery County location at 4942 Boiling Brook Parkway in the Randolph Hills neighborhood of North Bethesda (first-look video below). Dill Dinkers has taken over the 28,500 SF space that was previously home to Launch Trampoline Park, which closed in 2021. They are offering free play until the end of business on Sunday, July 23rd (must reserve your slot).

Dill Dinkers offer a wide array of options for getting out on the courts to play, including court reservations for members and non-members, clinics, leagues, and lessons for new and experienced players looking to improve their game. Dill Dinkers will also offer advertising opportunities within the facility for businesses and organizations looking to reach a large, active audience focused on healthy living. Memberships vary in price from $40 monthly to $115 monthly for families. Members and non-members can also reserve courts and play at a rate of $6.25-$12.50 with minimums of $25 and $50 per day.

In May 2022 we let you know that Federal Realty proposed a plan to transform what they referred to as the underutilized site of the Federal Plaza West property located at 1776 E. Jefferson Street, North Bethesda, Maryland (many consider the area Rockville) into a “thriving mixed-use development containing up to 500 units, up to a total of 108,965 square feet of retail uses (103,965 square feet of existing to be retained, and up to 5,000 square feet new), a half-acre public open space, and street-scape improvements.” Last week, the Montgomery County Planning Board approved the plan.

The Property is currently known as Federal Plaza West, which includes approximately 135,446 square feet of retail, including the former location of a Planet Fitness gym, which will soon be the home of MoCo’s first DMV Iron Gym location, and other retailers located in a two/three story structure constructed along the Property’s shared property line with Lot 1. A Panera Bread pad site and associated surface parking is located in the southwest quadrant of the Property, according to project plans.